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Monday, August 18, 2014

Refresher Racer to Replace the Cool Racerback?!?

Ugh, I floated my theory about this earlier today but now I'm hearing it might actually be true. The Refresher is being tested as a possible Cool Racerback replacement. That would be terrible. The Cool Racerback is the item I own the most of at 58 tanks (I own zero Refreshers) and I know a ton of people who have way more than me. I really do not like the Refresher Racer - the racer part is too wide in the back (i.e., hot), I don't like the curved duck tale hem (doesn't look good hanging out underneath Scubas or pullovers), the thin front straps, the lower scoop in front. The fit is not nearly as universally flattering as the CRB. I think it's a nice change of pace from the CRB but no way it replaces the perfect fit of the Cool Racerback. I'd start sending in your feedback now to lululemon about the Cool Racerback if you don't want to see it go away.

I absolutely hate the refresher. It doesn't look appealing at all. I like all the colors lulu is bringing for fall but yet to find nice tank wrappers delight makes the model look ten pounds heavier (don't need that),stash it tank looks like it has major extra fabric flaw in the back. So lulu is getting rid of crb, NLT, scoop neck ( ?) and replacing them with ill fitted tops

So I went in to my local Lulu and tried on many of the new things including both the crop version patchwork wonder under and the patchwork wonder under pant...Some thoughts..I liked the pant way better than the crop however the bottom of the pant has a cuff that's a different material from the rest of the pant and it has a weird transition where the material above the cuff balloons out slightly...I didn't like that. As for the crop, I have fairly small calves and the bottom is cut on a diagonal so the pointed end on the outside of the legs flares away from the pant and did not lay flat against my leg...Also I found all of the seaming to be very unflattering and not smoothing to my legs..so it accentuates any imperfections...big fail for me :(As for the refresher tank vs. the cool racer back..I tried on both and much prefer my beloved cool racer back so I hope Lulu does not discontinue.I'm with you LLA, I must own 60-70 CRB's and I don't own a single refresher...tried the new brightly colored striped one today..Not a fan, it doesn't fit nearly as well as the CRB.

Yeah that would be an odd move on their part to say the least. I first found Lulu in 2009 and I didn't gravitate to the CRB at first. But once I tried it. I was hooked. I wear CRBs casually and to work out, and I agree, the simple design is universally flattering.

Lulu is doing some weird things lately...lengthening the Wunder Under crops for example. They weren't broke so why fix them? Nixing the No Limits...it's a consistent seller, I personally own 7 of them, that was strange too.

Lulu will seriously piss their fans off if the CRB is next on the chopping block. Not a good move.

@ anon 8:35 pm - I was the same way. My first tank was the Power V and it took me a year or two until I "discovered" the CRB. I think the CRB is probably the one item the loyalist die-hard fans buy the most of and if it goes away I think a lot of people, who have been hanging in there waiting for the company to make its comeback, will finally give up on the brand.

I agree with you ladies that it took me a while to get hooked on CRBs. I wouldn't even try one on for at least a year because the price seemed so outrageous. I still think the price is outrageous, but when I really love a color or pattern I will buy it. I have tried racerback tanks of other brands and none of them even come close to the lulu ones. The lulu ones really hold everything in and are so flattering.

I'm a CRB fan -- I have more than I want to admit to -- but as I'm petite, I find the straps a little too long in a size 4, while the size 2 is a little too narrow and tight under the arms for me. I have the Refresh racer and I like the shorter narrower straps and how it looks from the front, though not the wider racerback. I've seen it worn by other petite girls and it looks good on them. Having said that, I would be crushed if lulu takes the CRB away. It's a lulu icon and as someone else said, it's universally flattering. The Refresher Racer is nice if you like to switch it up sometimes, as I do, but I gravitate to the CRB because it's versatile and works well with shorts, skirts, crops and pants, both workout and casual wear. Don't take it away lulu!

I was thinking about trying the refresher tank just b/c it looks like there is a Bordeaux Drama one coming up (and I hated the Bordeaux striped west2east print/luon blend that recently came out in the CRB...blech, those crazy stripes hurt my eyes) but it's pretty clear that we need to send a strong message to Lululemon and boycott the refresher tank altogether. Let's show Lululemon what we think of them discontinuing the CRB!

And yes, LLA, I think this is a deal breaker for me...the CRB is the one thing that I consistently purchase from Lululemon, so if it goes, I go!

I have like 30, 40, 50 CRBs? I am not counting but I love them.I dont like the curved hem of the refresher, it emphasises the rounded tummy, if there's one. And the straight cut back of the armhole doens not show off the traps as well as the crb.Maybe its a sign that I should be buying less...eve

Ditto with LLA and anon 8:35 pm. My first purchase from Lulu were Power Y's and then NLT's. I started buying in 2011 or 2012 but as of last spring when I bought my first CRB, they are basically the only tanks I now purchase. The only other tanks I have bought are two swiftly tanks but I prefer CRBs since they are sturdier. Also, the built in bra tanks never have enough support for me.

I was also a late converter to the CRB - it looked so simple online, and there were so much fancier things to buy (I don't live near a store). Then the first one I bought was some WMTM one in nasty scratchy fabric (I didn't know at the time that they came in different fabrics), and so I didn't buy another one for a long time. When I finally got one in a decent fabric, I was like, Ohhhh, THAT'S what all the hype is about. I left my feedback at the topic thread under my velevele x screenname. Thanks for alerting us to this.

I agree with you 100%, LA. Although the CRB isn't what attracted me to Lulu initially, it is what has kept me loyal to the brand over the years. (I don't love the way I look in leggings or shorts so I primarily buy Lulu for the tops/jackets.) Although I have collected over 50 Cool Racerbacks, I can't imagine buying more than 1 Refresher because it's less flattering and I don't believe it will translate into casual wear. I would be deeply disappointed if the company phased out the CRB. I plan to leave a negative review for the Refresher on the Lulu site to balance out the comments which now seem to suggest that the Refresher is "even better" than the CRB.

Im probably the only person thats fine with that. The cool racer back for some reason is not very flatering on my petite hourglass shape. The refresh fits me perfectly and the wideness in the back is perfect to hide bra straps. I feel bad though for everyone else, id be mad too..im just an exception i guess..

No!!! I've been a diehard lulu fan since 2007 but lately I have been so disappointed: strange design, poor quality and Unappealing prints/colors. But I still go there for WUs and CRBs. If they stop making CRB's they would likely lose me completely.

CRBs are the only item that I consistently buy from Lulu anymore. Every week I check the website to see if there are any new colors uploaded. If the CRB goes away, I have no reason to check the website every week and no reason to stop by the store when I'm in the area. This means that all the extras that get into my cart (headbands, energy bras, etc...) won't be purchased by me either.

Also a huge CRB fan, and now will hoard mine like crazy. But now that I think about it...have seen them going on sale for $29 alot recently...mostly the bad polyestery prints (Iris etc), but even the nice Luon (got an angel blue, also rapberry glo stripe for $29 on WMTM). So maybe from their business side, they aren't selling like they used to?

Like you, I have LOTS of crb's and zero refresher racer tanks. I don't like the curved hem and I really don't like the lower neckline. If Lulu is going to do anything to the crb, just make it a tad higher in the neckline. I'd love to see that!

I just tried on refresher tank and hated the front and straps. With my CRB you do not see racer back style bras. Refresher tank showed front and back of bra. Yikes I so hope we don't see this as a replacement!

Honestly, that would be truly terrible. I'm a Lulu newb, and I LOVE the CRBs. It's also what I own the most of. They fit perfectly, and they stay cool while running. I'd hate for it to be replaced by something I'd consider more of a lifestyle top.

I bet the Refresher uses less fabric. It's always about trying to cut corners and save money on production costs while raising the cost for consumers for the suits at Lulu (hence the sheer yoga pants and pilling pants as well). The thing too, is that the corporate heads think their customers won't notice, which I find incredibly galling. Their response when they are caught is even more offensive.

If Lulu continues to alienate their core base, there are enough other brands out there that are actively courting the disgruntled Lulu customers to lure them away. Discontinuing the CRB could be the final nail in Lulu's coffin.

don't like the curved hem on the refresher tank. The CRB as a style is flattering on petite and regular sizes. hard to believe they would get rid of such a foundation piece. I never know how certain bra tops will fit me as far as tightness around ribcage, sometimes an 8, sometimes a 10. I always wear an 8 in CRB, so fewer returns.....

Agree that the CRB is far superior to the Refresh Racer. The racerback cut on the CRB is far more flattering, and it seems like most people dislike the scalloped hem on the Refresh Racer. I agree that the scalloped hem looks awkward underneath a jacket or Scuba.

I left my feedback on heylululemon and am looking forward to a response from Somerlea or someone else from their team on the issue (though their responses tend to not be very informative or useful).

As someone who is short (5'3"), I cast my vote for the CRB! I am longer-waisted, so maybe that's why I don't find them too long. I agree with everyone else who said they don't like the refresher racer cut--and I don't like the curved hem since it looks bad (IMO) hanging out under a Forme or Scuba.

NO! Not the CRB! It's such a staple piece--it isn't just for working out. And it's so much better than all of the "street" wear they've tried to push too. It's the one piece I feel like I can wear as casual wear too, which doesn't scream "I'm wearing a running top!"

Gotta say, as a petite (5'-0") but curvy person, I have to stay away from the CRBs as much as I love them - they always show WAY too much cleavage as the straps are too long for me - never mind the fact that I always have to have them hemmed. The only time I buy one is if there is a pattern I just can't live without. I bought the Refresh Racer when it came out a few months back and it fits me so much better. That being said - since they sometimes make tall sizes but never petite sizes, I see no reason why they can't let the CRBs and the RRs coexist. Even though I don't wear them, I do see CRBs as a staple and can't for the life of me imagine why Lululemon would purposely shoot themselves in the foot like this. I stopped buying their pants when they stopped using the diamond gusset a few years ago - I can totally see this being a deal breaker for the brand-loyal. Unbelievable.

The CRB is my staple. I love CRBs and their form-fitting design. Its long length flatters my body and especially my bum (my torso is long waisted). I get appreciative looks from guys and ladies when I wear my CRBs as they hid all the defects and enhance whatever I have in the back :) The refresher tank isn't going to do the same for my body!

Lululemon I have given up on your bottoms as I am a heavy sweater and your bottom shows the embarrassing stains. Plus your see-through issues, so disappointing.

About Me

For 18 years I was an electrical engineer working in communications satellite system engineering. I've worked at Boeing, Booz, Allen & Hamilton, and General Electric. For the past ten years I've been a stay at home mom who keeps busy volunteering in my community and chauffeuring my three children to their activities. I live in Orange County, California.

The inaugural Sea Wheeze inspired me to take up running two years ago. I have completed ten half marathons and have three more scheduled for 2015. I mostly run these days but also go to the gym ~3-4 days a week for spin class, weight lifting, and cardio.

I discovered Lululemon six years ago and really liked the fit and performance of the clothes. I do check out other brands so if you would like me to review your product please contact me.

If you would like to contact me, my email address is lululemonaddict@gmail.com.